‘Flash Gordon’ Reboot Headed to Fox From ‘Star Trek 3′ Writers

After having to spend a year trying to figure out who exactly owns it, Fox is now working on a 'Flash Gordon' reboot and have hired the writers of 'Star Trek 3' to build on the work already done by 'The Bourne Ultimatum' writer George Nolfi. The question is: Will the new Flash save every one of us?

This news comes from The Hollywood Reporter, and they note that John Davis will be producing the film with 'Trek 3' scribes J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay on board as the writers. 'Flash Gordon' began as a comic strip, but by 1936 he made the leap to the big screen where he was portrayed by Buster Crabbe in a number of serials. The material had fans in people like George Lucas, who originally tried to adapt the comic and serials for then-modern audiences, but when he was denied, he went off and wrote a little film called 'Star Wars.' This led Universal to do a version of 'Flash Gordon' for the big screen in 1980, but the film was only moderately successful and did not spawn a sequel.

But the film has maintained a cult following ever since, and of late the film was referenced in Edgar Wright's 'Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World' (and Wright has shown the film in one of his curated film festivals) while it also was a plot point in 'Ted.' This new version is likely to be less campy, but it seems that history is will repeat itself as the film will follow 'Star Wars: Episode 7' into theaters. We'd be amused if they asked George Lucas to direct, though no directors have yet been named.

Also, if you haven't heard it in a while, here's the music video for the theme to the 1980 movie: